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Once you have found your ideal job you will need to put some thought into your application form. It's important you take your time completing the form so that we can see how your skills and experience match the job profile.
If you're disabled, we can make reasonable adjustments to our recruitment processes according to your needs. Please get in touch with hrsupport@orkney.gov.uk to discuss this further. We are committed to reducing barriers disabled candidates face when applying for jobs.
Each job advertised will have a job profile which describes the duties linked to the role and the qualifications, skills and experience necessary to do these duties. When completing your application form it is also important to refer back to this job profile as this will be used to decide if you have the necessary skills and attributes to be invited forward for an interview.
You will need to have an account with myjobscotland and complete an online application form. As part of the online application form you need to go through the following sections:
Contact details, home address and most recent job title and employer.
Qualifications, work history, professional memberships, relevant courses and referee contact details.
Questions relating to your skills, experience, work achievements and personal qualities.
This is to capture information about you so that we can ensure fair practice and treatment. This information is confidential and is not available to the people who will look at your application form.
Details of how your personal information is stored or shared and requires your consent.
We also ask if you consider yourself to have a disability. You should select this box if it applies to you. However, even if you don't select this box, you can still share this information at a later stage if you wish.
Want to stay up to date with our latest vacancies? Check out our sixty second guide on creating job alerts!
Qualifications: In this section you should detail your further education and qualifications related to the role you are applying for (in order from the most recent to the least recent). If you are applying for an entry level role or you have not got further education qualifications, secondary school qualifications should be included.
Employment history: This section is for you to list your current employment and at least 3 years previous employment, you are asked to include a brief description of responsibilities, experience and knowledge gained. This is a free text box and is your chance to note down your experience based on your previous jobs and what duties you had to do.
It is important to look at the job description to make sure you write down how you meet the criteria for this role through your previous experience. These sections are an opportunity for you to sell yourself, as this is the first point of contact with your potential new employer and is where you state why you are the best person for the job.
Once you have submitted your application you will receive an email confirming that your application form has been received by us. The next email will let you know whether you have been successful and invited to the next stage e.g. interview, or if you have been unsuccessful.
If you are disabled and meet the essential criteria for the job you are applying for, you will automatically be selected for interview. You will usually be offered a choice of interview times and should book a time that works best for you. You will receive an email confirming all the interview details. This email will include the contact details for you to request any adjustments you might need for your interview.
We are proud that our people policies are Armed Forces-friendly and that we offer a guaranteed interview to those with Armed Forces experience who meet the essential criteria of the job they are applying for.
You can log onto your myjobscotland account to check the status of your application/s (e.g. submitted, invited to interview) and if you apply for another job, the details you have already typed in will be saved in your next application form, so you do not need to re-do it. However, it is worth reviewing this information to make sure it is still relevant and is suitable for each job you apply for.
Whether you've had one interview or many, it's common to get a little nervous. The key to success at interview is preparation and here are some suggested items you may want to focus on:
Get to know us: Learn about our mission, values, culture, and recent news.
Get to know the role: Review the job description thoroughly. Understand the skills and experiences required.
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers to behavioural questions.
Show your interest: For example, you could ask questions about the role, team or company culture.
Mock interviews: Conduct mock interviews with a friend or use online tools to simulate the interview environment.
Feedback: Get feedback on your answers.
If the job description and person specification mentions any essential qualifications or professional memberships, you will need to bring the original certificates or evidence with you to your interview. This is important so that we can verify your documents and ensure a smooth recruitment process.
These documents will be kept in your employee file if you are offered and accept a job with us, otherwise they will be destroyed in line with data protection requirements.
You will need to bring original documents to prove your right to work in the UK.
You can prove your right to work in the UK with any of the following:
You can find out more about proving your right to work by visiting the UK Government website.
You can prove your right to work in the UK with either:
If the job you are being interviewed for requires you to drive (check the Significant or regular demands of the role section job description), you will need to bring your original driving licence to the interview, along with a check code so that we can verify it.
Check codes for licences issued in Scotland, Wales, and England can be obtained here and for licences issued in Northern Ireland, can be obtained here.
When you are offered a job with us, there are a couple of steps that we need to take before you can get started - we refer to these as pre-employment checks.
We will use the contact details you have provided on your application form to contact your referees. If you haven't provided your current or most recent employer, then we will ask you for their details.
You won't be able to start with us until we receive these references.
You will be asked to complete a pre-employment health clearance so that we can support your wellbeing or make any workplace adjustments.
Our independent Occupational Health provider completes this health check and this process will vary depending on the job's demands and nature. We will let you know these details by email as part of the offer process.
Some jobs require a criminal conviction check through Disclosure Scotland as part of the pre-employment process.
You can see if the job you have been offered requires this check, and the type of check it needs by taking a look at Criminal Records checks section the job description.
We support the rehabilitation of offenders and so only request criminal conviction information when legally necessary.
It is illegal for us to allow you to start work before the criminal conviction check is complete, if it requires one.
The different types of criminal convictions checks and the reasons for checking are listed below:
| Type of Criminal Convictions Check | When we need to use this check |
|---|---|
| Basic Disclosure (Level 1 check from 2025) | This is required for all employees who have access to the Council secure government network and / or have an orkney.gov.uk email address. |
| Standard Disclosure (Level 2 check from April 2025) | This is required for certain types of employment i.e. Solicitors, Accountants |
| Enhanced Disclosure (Level 2 check from April 2025) | This is required for certain types of employment. |
| PVG Scheme Membership for Children | This is required where the duties and responsibilities of a job meet the legal definition of a regulated role with children. |
| PVG Scheme Membership for Adults | This is required where the duties and responsibilities of a job meet the legal definition of a regulated role with adults. |
You will need to provide an overseas criminal record check, and if necessary, a certified translation of this check, if you fall into one of the following categories:
For more information, visit the UK Government website.